Russia jails Pussy Riot punk rockers

Moscow, Russian Federation – When the women of the Russian music group Pussy Riot played what they called a punk prayer, “Mother of God, Cast Putin Out!” inside Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral in February, they expected to be stopped. They did not expect to be jailed. But three members of the band – Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Maria Alekhina – now languish in prison facing up to seven years in jail if convicted of “hooliganism on the grounds of religious hatred”.

Arrested in early March, a judge ruled in July that their pre-trial detention could last until January 2013, but they will know their fate before then. Their trial is scheduled for July 30.

Russian Orthodox Church organises against Pussy Riot punks

When it charged them in July, the case launched by the prosecutor general’s office in Moscow included “appearing in the Russian Orthodox Church’s main church, Christ the Saviour Cathedral, inflicting significant damage on holy Christian values, encroaching on sacredness of sacraments, and ignoring calls by the church’s candle-bearer to stop sacrilege”. Prosecutors also said the band “unlawfully entered the enclosed space in the church designed for holy religious rites, thus blasphemously humiliating the Russian Orthodox Church’s centuries-long traditions”.

Tolokonnikova’s husband, artist Piotr Versilov, said he was surprised when armed Federal Security Service (FSB) agents stormed his home and detained him and his wife in early March. They later freed him.

“Initially when this whole incident happened on February 21, the officials on the spot, church security and local police came to the scene and they said they had absolutely no questions,” he explained. “Security asked the girls to leave, [and] the local police said that they wouldn’t be opening an inquiry into it because there’s nothing to investigate.

“Only a week later, after the clip caused great public outcry, a decision was supposedly made personally by Putin to arrest members who took part in this performance and turn this case into what it is right now,” he said.

The case has attracted hundreds of supporters who gather outside the court on hearing days and have demonstrated in solidarity with the performers. Amnesty International has declared the three women to be prisoners of conscience and demanded their unconditional release. One hundred prominent Russian artists, writers and actors signed an open letter of support.

Peotr Versilov, husband of one of the jailed Pussy Riot musicians, has a letter of support from Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea [Jennifer Glasse/Al Jazeera]

In recent concerts in St Petersburg and Moscow, Anthony Kiedis, lead vocalist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, wore a “Pussy Riot” T-shirt and members of the band wrote letters of encouragement. Alex Kapranos of the Scottish group Franz Ferdinand also voiced support for the group while performing in Moscow.

Publicity keynote of campaign

“Keeping the case in the public eye is part of our strategy,” said Nikolai Polozov, an attorney representing the women. He and the two other lawyers feel the case has been weighted against them from the beginning. They cite the most recent court ruling on July 23, when the court threw out their witness list, which included President Putin and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.

They say they will appeal the decision. The court upheld their request that the accused women be able to read the case against them, but even in that, the lawyers say, their clients are being penalised. The judge ruled the documents could only be read in the courthouse in central Moscow, meaning the women will have to leave their jail at 5am in order to be able to read the case against them. The lawyers say no breakfast or lunch will be provided to them at the courthouse.

“The petitions and opinions of the opposite side [the prosecution] are decisive in this case, while our opinion is not being considered seriously. So in this situation we are not able to defend our clients 100 per cent,” said Mark Feygin, another lawyer for the musicians.

Amnesty has dubbed the band ‘prisoners of conscience’ [CC/Igor Mukhin]

The lawyers contend that the prosecution of their clients is about Putin displaying his power, and believe their clients will be convicted no matter what the law says. Many Russians liken the case to that of jailed businessman Mikhail Khordokhovsky, who many believe to have been imprisoned primarily because of opposition to the Kremlin rather than for crimes against the state.

Versilov says Putin is using Pussy Riot as an example to others not to challenge his rule. “To him [Putin], it was basically a landmark point in the evolvement of Russian protest. After 100,000-plus people demonstrated against him and public rallies, which began happening in December, he saw that people are protesting in really creative, really bright, really strange ways, and it’s probably went through his mind that a stop must be put to this.”

The defence is hoping that the public outcry about the jailing and possible conviction of the women will continue to grow stronger, both here in Russia and internationally. They would like support from Madonna, who appears in Moscow and St Petersburg in August.

In what could be a glimmer of hope, the Moscow court ruled that the trial, which begins July 30, should be transparent, with proceedings broadcast online. Pussy Riot’s lawyers are sceptical, saying this is usually only done in cases of terrorism and are concerned it might be a ploy to keep independent journalists and TV cameras out of the courtroom.

The prosecutor general’s office has not commented publicly on the case since it referred it to court. The Russian Orthodox Church says it will not comment until the court has ruled.

Follow Jennifer Glasse on Twitter: @JenniferGlasse